TRAVEL: Local trip tips for Aug. 19

EXPERIENCE SUMMER AT HOME:
La Costa Resort and Spa's Summer Experience package features accommodations in a newly renovated room, $30 dining credit, $90 golf credit, $45 spa credit and self-parking. The credits are good per person per day. Children 17 and under stay free in their parents' room. Rates start at $165 per person based on double occupancy (plus daily $12 resort fee for each guest and taxes); lacosta.com or 800-854-5000.

RELAX IN STYLE AT TAHOE:
Families can spend a summertime Lake Tahoe vacation in luxury at the Constellation Residences at Northstar California Resort. The Summer Fam Cam package includes use of the resort's Go Pro cameras to document your outdoor recreation. The package also includes a $150 grocery delivery credit. Nightly rates are $999 for two-bedroom unit, $1,399 for three-bedroom unit and $1,699 for four-bedroom unit. Residences range from 1,454 to 2,416 square feet. Two-night minimum stay required. Rates good through Aug. 30. The Tahoe Star Gazing package includes a stargazing tour led by astronomy expert and poet Tony Berendsen. Tours feature poem reading, prize-filled space quiz, laser tour of stars and constellations, and a telescopic viewing. Rates from $549 per night through Sept. 8 (holidays not included). Visit constellationatnorthstar.com .

OCEANSIDE GETAWAY:
Oceanside's Beachfront Only vacation rentals is offering 25 percent off rentals for the week of Aug. 24 to 30. The discount applies to any length of stay between those days except for two-night weekend stays. The company offers hundreds of rooms from coastal cottages on the sand to luxury seaside homes. Use promo code SUMMER25VO. Visit beachfrontonly.com.

SEQUOIA ADVENTURES:
Wuksachi Lodge in Central California's Sequoia National Park is offering packages to entice people to visit the great outdoors. The Wolverton BBQ Living History Dinner package includes overnight accommodations and two tickets to the barbecue feast. The package is available through Sept. 2. Rates start at $243. The Horseback package features accommodations, box lunches for two, and a one-hour guided Sequoia horseback trip. The package is available until Oct. 7. Rates start at $275. The Sequoia Sightseeing package features accommodations plus a half-day guided Sequoia tour that includes the General Sherman Tree, Round Meadow and Moro Rock. Rates start at $318 during the summer. The Trail Blazer package, available until Nov. 24, features a night's stay, along with a Sequoia-branded backpack, water bottles, box lunches for two, trail mix and trail map. Rates start at $181. Visit visitsequoia.com or call 866-449-4902.

SAVE A FEW AT MARRIOTT:
San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter is participating in a Marriott promotion that offers guests deluxe accommodations, complimentary self-parking and high-speed Web for $206 per night. Rate is valid for stays Thursday through Sunday through Sept. 5. Use rate code LSX. Visit www.marriott.com/specials/mesOffer.mi?marrOfferId=736552&displayLink=true or call 800-228-9290.

FAMILY TIME AT HILTON GARDEN INN:
The Carlsbad hotel's Family Value package offers rooms and 15 percent savings off amenities such as meals at its Carlsbad Beach Bistro, beach equipment and bike rentals, The Crossings at Carlsbad golf course, and theme park admission (Legoland California, SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park). Rates start at $199. Available through Labor Day; hiltongardeninncarlsbad.com or 760-476-0800.

"LINKS & DRINKS" FOR DAD:
Westlake Inn, near the west end of L.A's San Fernando Valley, is offering its Links & Drinks package. It features Courtyard room stay with possible golf course views, a bucket of golf balls for the Westlake Village Golf Course driving range, preferred tee time, guided Scotch tasting and cigar. Rates start at $174, which represents a 31 percent savings. Package is available through Dec. 30. Visit www.westlakevillageinn.com/events-packages.

SUN, DRINK AND EAT IN CABO:
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort is offering a trio of travel, culinary and spa specials to mark its 10th year as a Cabo San Lucas resort. The Feliz Cumpleanos package offers more than 35 percent off standard summer rates. The package offers guests a free fourth night, a bottle of Esperanza's private label sparkling wine, round-trip airport transfers and daily breakfast. Chef Gonzalo Cerda will create a locally sourced feast for the Mexican Beach Clambake, offered from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays for $135 per person. The Summer Spa Pairing pairs Esperanza's Tequila Soother body treatment with a signature Paloma cocktail. Rate is $335 for two-hour spa treatment and tequila pairing. Visit esperanzaresort.com or call 866-311-2226.

SANTA CRUZ SPECIALS:
Huntington Beach residents might argue which city should be called Surf City, but the Monterey Bay city would like to make its case by attracting visitors with numerous lodging specials and discounts at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Visit santacruzcounty.travel for links to lodging specials. Website browsers can enter a contest to win a two-night hotel stay, four Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk passes, and dining and shopping certificates for Capitola Village.

BLUE OCTOPUS SUITES AT THE DEL:
The Blue Octopus Family Suite package at the Hotel del Coronado features two nights in a new Blue Octopus suite, Kidtopia Camp for up to two children (three hours), daily boogie board rental per child, unlimited video games, a Blue Octopus welcome amenity, and VIK (Very Important Kid) passes. Children can check out The Blue Octopus, a new toy store. Rates start at $745 per night. Visit hoteldel.com or call 800-468-3533.

TRAVEL ON TWO WHEELS:
The Omni San Diego Hotel's Two Wheel Tourism package features an in-room "Get Fit" kit, picnic lunch for two, two round-trip ferry tickets to Coronado, free car and bicycle valet, and bike trail maps. Bike rentals and bicycle tours can be arranged by hotel concierge. Rates start at $279 per night. Visit www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/sandiego.aspx or call 619-231-6664.

BEST OF MAUI:
The oceanfront Ka'anapali Beach Hotel's Best of the Beach features four nights in an ocean-view room, compact rental car and valet parking, one lunch for two, daily buffet breakfast for two, a logo cooler bag, two beach towels, two bottles of water per day, and choice of snorkel gear rental or use of an umbrella and two chaises lounges for two people for three days. The package is $1,349, a $400 savings over regular rate. The Ka'anapali Beach Hotel is on the western shore of Maui. Visit kbhmaui.com or call 800-262-8450.

"PLAY BALL!":
San Diego property Hotel Solamar's baseball-centric package includes deluxe accommodations, up to 20 percent of the hotel's best rate available, two beers in Hotel Solamar's Jsix or LOUNGEsix, morning coffee and tea service, and evening wine reception. Rates start at $149. Use rate code PBAS if booking online or request Play Ball! Package if booking by phone. Visit hotelsolamar.com or call 877-230-0300.

PADRES GAME WITHOUT DRIVE HOME:
The Omni San Diego Hotel's spring Shortstop Baseball package features a deluxe room for two, two tickets to a San Diego Padres game, potato chip chocolate bar from Chuao Chocolatier, breakfast for two at the hotel's restaurant or through room service, and free valet parking. The Omni is connected to Petco Park via a skybridge. The package starts at $269 ($299 for field box seats). Visit www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/sandiego.aspx or call 619-231-6664.

$20 OFF THIS AND THAT
: Hotel Solamar's Eight-Fifty & Time for Recess package offers guests a five-night stay with daily amenities at the downtown San Diego property for $850: a glass of wine or champagne to celebrate arrival, $20 off daily valet parking, a $20 daily credit to Jsix restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and $20 off a Kimpton robe. The package is available through 2012. Book at hotelsolamar.com or call 877-230-0300 and mention rate code 850.